By Paul Sylvain

Machiasport clam diggers know that, like the tides, their fortunes can rise or fall, depending on the weather and, unfortunately, the Machias wastewater treatment plant.

To that end, Machias Selectboard Chairman Jake Patryn and Vice Chairman Ben Edwards met with Machiasport Shellfish Conservation Committee members Zach Wood, Whitney Stevens, and David Cale on Oct. 30 to discuss the issue of state-mandated clam flat closures whenever a combined sewage overflow, or CSO, event occurs at the Machias plant.